John MacArthur, in his commentary on Jn 15 says; Abiding in Christ is the source of the abundant life Jesus speaks of in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” My ministry experience has totally confirmed this over and over again. Abiding in Christ is the source of the abundant life. This is a HUGE truth to understand. If we are not abiding in Christ, we should not expect to be experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised. However, here is the real truth that we must allow to really pierce our hearts; Abiding in Christ is conditional. We are so used to hearing about God’s unconditional love, and we praise God. And we are so used to hearing about our unconditional salvation, and we really praise God. However, we may be fooling ourselves into thinking that experiencing the abundant life should also be unconditional. The Bible clearly teaches just the opposite. In Jn 16:33 we have two great promises from Jesus;1) In this world you will have tribulation (unconditional).2) IN ME you may have peace (conditional). Coming out of the Ch 15 teaching of abiding in Christ, it seems clear Jesus is not speaking of the “positional” IN ME of Salvation, but of the “practical” IN ME of abiding in Christ. In Mat 11:28-30 we also have two promises, one unconditional, one conditional. The first one (v.28) is; Come to Me, and I will give you rest (unconditional). The second one (v.29) is; Take my yoke upon you (put on the life I’ve created for you), and learn from me (become a disciple), and you will find rest for your souls (conditional). Jesus’ entire teaching in the upper room discourse (Jn Ch’s 13-16), is directed at those who have already committed to following Him, and yet His teaching is conditional through-out this incredible teaching on how His disciples can be victorious in this world of tribulation. (see especially Jn 15:4-5) Clearly, there are those who have made a profession of faith in Christ, but are still in conflict & rebellion in their lives. And there are those who have not only made the profession of faith, but have developed a continual abiding relationship with their living Lord. Please, be the second. Don’t settle for thinking you’ve got your “salvation ticket” punched. Learn to truly ABIDE in Christ. It will radically, and eternally, change your life. Pastor Dave
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